Body

Butt Lift

A sagging backside can make any patient self-conscious about the appearance of his or her body. Unfortunately, many patients develop loose skin on the buttocks as a result of significant weight loss, the aging process, or genetics. When this problem occurs, our Philadelphia surgeons can perform butt lift surgery.

Butt Lift Candidates

Candidates for butt lift surgery should be at or near their goal weight, in good health, and not smoke. The also have:

Dimpled skin on the buttocks

Loose, hanging skin on the buttocks

An excess of skin on the buttocks

Skin that has lost its ability to contract

Uneven fat distribution on the buttocks

Loss of volume in the buttocks

Butt Lift Techniques

When patients have an accumulation of skin that requires excision, there are two incision options:

Crease of the buttocks: In this technique, the incisions are made in the crease below the buttocks. This approach allows for moderate tightening of the skin on the butt and backs of the thighs, as well as fat distribution and adjustments to the underlying tissue matrix.

Above the buttocks: The incisions in this approach are similar to those made in the lower body lift procedure. The incisions are located between the buttocks and the lower back, and allow surgeons to redistribute fat, tighten the underlying supporting structures, and redistribute fat.

In addition to these skin excision techniques, patients that have lost volume in the buttocks may opt to have butt implants placed. This approach can correct milder cases of skin laxity by augmenting the butt and stretching out the skin.

Patients with an excess of fatty tissue in the buttocks may choose to undergo liposuction, along with skin excision techniques, to improve the appearance of the backside.

Butt Lift Procedure

The butt lift procedure takes two to three hours to perform. It involves the following steps:

The incision locations on the buttocks and lower back are marked with a surgical pen

The patient is put under general anesthesia

Anti-bacterial solution is applied to the treatment area

The incisions are made along the pen markings

The skin is separated from the underlying structures

The tissue and muscles are adjusted

Fat is redistributed

The skin is stretched over the buttocks

Extra skin is excised

The incisions are closed

The treatment area is cleaned

Medical tape and bandages are applied

The patient is put in a compression garment

Butt Lift Recovery

Any surgery that involves skin excision techniques will result in a lengthier recovery period. During butt lift surgery recovery, patients should rest, keep the head elevated, apply ice packs regularly, and take pain medication for the first few days after surgery.

The compression garment should be worn at all times for four weeks after surgery.

Though light walks are encouraged after surgery, heavy exercise or strenuous activity should be avoided for four to six weeks.

Butt Lift Side Effects

Side effects of butt lift surgery include:

Bruising

Pain

Swelling

Numbness of itchiness along the incisions

Butt Lift Risks

Though uncommon, risks of butt lift surgery include:

Allergy to any of the materials used during surgery or aftercare

Infection

Asymmetry of the buttocks

Bleeding or hematoma

Seroma (fluid accumulation)

Delayed wound healing

Poor scarring

Butt Lift Results

All bruising and swelling will fade by one to three months after surgery, at which point the results will be visible. Scarring, however, may take up to a year to reach its final state.

Patients not local to Philadelphia can take an online consultation from the privacy of their own home. A simple four step process that can help us determine if they are a candidate for a procedure prior to traveling to our offices. Click the more button to begin the process.